Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia

Australia: Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure was 15.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
15.8%
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
139th
of 194 countries
All-time high
21.0%
in 2000
All-time low
14.5%
in 2021
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia, 2000–2023

051015202000201120232000: 212001: 20.42002: 19.92003: 19.12004: 19.22005: 19.62006: 19.72007: 192008: 192009: 19.12010: 19.72011: 19.22012: 19.92013: 19.52014: 17.82015: 16.92016: 16.62017: 16.32018: 16.52019: 152020: 15.22021: 14.52022: 15.12023: 15.8

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Australia recorded 15.8% for out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in 2023.

The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 18.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia peaked at 21.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2021.

That places Australia 139th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%) in Australia, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 21.0%
2001 20.4% -2.7%
2002 19.9% -2.5%
2003 19.1% -3.9%
2004 19.2% +0.4%
2005 19.6% +2.2%
2006 19.7% +0.5%
2007 19.0% -3.8%
2008 19.0% +0.2%
2009 19.1% +0.1%
2010 19.7% +3.7%
2011 19.2% -2.9%
2012 19.9% +4.0%
2013 19.5% -2.0%
2014 17.8% -8.6%
2015 16.9% -5.2%
2016 16.6% -1.7%
2017 16.3% -1.9%
2018 16.5% +1.0%
2019 15.0% -8.9%
2020 15.2% +1.5%
2021 14.5% -5.1%
2022 15.1% +4.6%
2023 15.8% +4.7%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 15.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 94% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
  • Australia's 15.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 19.6% 19.0% 21.0% 10
2010s 17.8% 15.0% 19.9% 10
2020s 15.2% 14.5% 15.8% 4

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 136 Sao Tome and Principe 16.7% compare
  2. 137 Cuba 16.6% compare
  3. 138 Austria 16.5% compare
  4. 140 Poland 15.8% compare
  5. 141 Canada 15.2% compare
  6. 142 Iceland 14.7% compare

See the full ranking of 207 places →

More health data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia?
Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia was 15.8% in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 21.0% in 2000.
What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2021.
How does Australia rank for out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure?
Australia ranks 139th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
Is out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-pocket-expenditure-as-percentage-of-current-health-expenditure-che-percent/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
207 places, 4,876 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed